There is not a lot to washing wands or T-bars, is there? Simple enough grab a T-bar and a washing sleeve and start scrubbing right? Well you could do this, but there is more to washing wands then one might think.
When I first started out I had a basic Ettore washing sleeve, the cheapest they make, and it did pretty good. But my friend who was teaching me the ropes had a fancy looking sleeve and the fibers seemed different than mine. That’s because there are some differences.
First we have the underlying T-bar that holds the washing sleeve. There are two basic type of T-bars to choose from for window cleaning depending on your preference and the situation at hand. Some times you are going to want more or less water in your washing wand. There is the plastic handle with aluminum bar, this will not hold as much water as the other option which is all plastic and has grooves cut into the bar to allow water to be caught there. There are several different brands to choose from which you can mix and match with the different washing sleeves although I have found that different brands T-bars and sleeves do not always fit very well on each others brand. So my advice is to buy a sleeve whose brand matches your T-bar.
Next comes the window cleaning sleeve, which comes in three main types and also holds as much water or as little as you want. There are the standard sleeves which are the cheapest available. The Microfiber which works the best as it picks dirt up better off the window, it is also thicker and can hold more water. The Microfiber also seems to be stiched better and will hold up longer. The last option is the abrasive or porcupine sleeve which is mostly used in construction clean up, although I have not found it to be that great. My personal choice is the Microfiber by Ettore.
When I clean windows I prefer to soak my washing wand so that I can clean several windows without having to come back to my bucket. I also like to get the window really wet on the out side, especially if the window is really dirty. And on a hot summer day the window can dry up real quick, especially if you live in a windy area. Lots of water will give you some time especially if you are new to window cleaning, to get your squeegee to the window before it dries. Many window cleaners probably prefer little water as its easier to squeegee and detail not to mention splashing on other windows and dripping, so there are trade offs to consider.
When it comes to washing wands there are a few sizes to choose from. You should at least have an eighteen inch and a six inch. The six inch will allow you to do the small window that the eighteen is too large for like French pane windows. In which case you will also need a six inch Squeegee.
